Shopping

Superstores

These are stores that sell a variety of products ranging from food and clothing to home appliances, all in one place. Some examples of superstores are Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Kmart, and Big Lots. Superstores are extremely competitive, so their prices are usually very low. However, beware of this, cheaper prices do not always mean better quality.

Warehouses

Similar to superstores, in that they have competitive prices and a wide variety of products. Warehouse stores sell most of their items in bulk, meaning large quantities of the product. When buying in bulk, you are paying less for each item, but you are also buying a lot of that item. For example, at a grocery store, you can buy an individual bar of soap. At the warehouse you have to buy 15 bars of soap, so you pay more for the larger amount, but the price for each bar is less than what you pay for one bar at the grocery store. Most warehouses require you to buy a membership before shopping at their store; most memberships begin at $50 each year. You will have to look at your budget to see if this makes sense; often it does not for individuals or very small families or those without the space to store large quantities. Be careful of over-buying, if you are going to shop at a warehouse, make sure you need and are going to use all of the items you purchase. The two most popular warehouses in Iowa are:

Second Hand/Thrift Stores/Consignment

These stores can be a good source of clothing, furniture, dishes, toys and winter coats if you are trying to shop for a low price, but still maintain good quality. These stores carry items that have previously been used, but are still in good condition, and are then re-sold at a substantially lower price. To find a store near you, go to http://www.google.com/ and type in your city and “thrift store”, “consignment store”, “second hand store”. You can also look for those same words in the yellow pages of a phone directory.

If you wish to read about some of the popular terms for second hand stores, and locations throughout Iowa, you may go here: http://goo.gl/DXePK

Garage/Yard Sales

Another good way to save money is by going to garage and yard sales. These are sales, generally held in the spring, summer and early fall, when people gather their unwanted items, setup tables on their front yard or in their garage and sell them. The prices are usually negotiable, so do not hesitate to barter with the sellers, because they will usually be willing to make a deal. Most people will set up signs around their neighborhood stating where/when their garage sale is, so look around your neighborhood when you are out and about. Sellers also put advertisements in their local newspapers, or list their sales on www.Craigslist.com.

Ethnic/Specialty Foods

Iowa’s increasing international population means there are specialty grocery stores in many places, as well as sections of international food in many grocery stores.

Phone Solicitors

These are also known as telemarketers, and their job is to call people and try to sell a certain product. These products are usually, but not limited to, magazine/newspaper subscriptions, TV packages, cell phone contracts, or they are trying to get a donation for a charity. Some telemarketers work for a political organization and will call you to try and see if you will support their candidate/cause. If you do not wish to be contacted by telemarketers you may register your phone number to the “do not call” list, which is a list of numbers that telemarketers are not supposed to call. (This may not always keep them from calling, so if you do get a call, ask to be taken off the list or just hang up). You may register your number here: https://www.donotcall.gov/. It is generally not a good idea to buy any product over the phone; if you are interested in something, ask them to mail you information.

Home Care/Repair

Owning a house is a goal for many people. But when you own your home, you are in charge of the repairs when something breaks. There are many stores that have almost everything you will need to do large and small repairs, such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, Menard's, just to name a few. Sometimes their employees can give you advice on tools to use or repair techniques.

There are programs throughout Iowa that offer help for home affairs and improvements, you may find out more about them here: http://goo.gl/TrxCZ.

Craigslist

This is a website where people post ads for things they are selling, or things that they want to buy. It is a free service. . If you find an ad for something you would like to buy, you email the seller and make arrangements to buy the item and how much you are going to pay for it. There are scams on Craigslist, so if you can, take someone with you when you go to get the item. If you are selling something, do not meet the buyer at your home alone, if possible, and take cash, not a check. Most larger towns have their own Craigslist website, and you can search by city. You may visit Craigslist here: http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites

Shopping

Superstores

These are stores that sell a variety of products ranging from food and clothing to home appliances, all in one place. Some examples of superstores are Walmart, Best Buy, Target, Kmart, and Big Lots. Superstores are extremely competitive, so their prices are usually very low. However, beware of this, cheaper prices do not always mean better quality.

Warehouses

Similar to superstores, in that they have competitive prices and a wide variety of products. Warehouse stores sell most of their items in bulk, meaning large quantities of the product. When buying in bulk, you are paying less for each item, but you are also buying a lot of that item. For example, at a grocery store, you can buy an individual bar of soap. At the warehouse you have to buy 15 bars of soap, so you pay more for the larger amount, but the price for each bar is less than what you pay for one bar at the grocery store. Most warehouses require you to buy a membership before shopping at their store; most memberships begin at $50 each year. You will have to look at your budget to see if this makes sense; often it does not for individuals or very small families or those without the space to store large quantities. Be careful of over-buying, if you are going to shop at a warehouse, make sure you need and are going to use all of the items you purchase. The two most popular warehouses in Iowa are:

Second Hand/Thrift Stores/Consignment

These stores can be a good source of clothing, furniture, dishes, toys and winter coats if you are trying to shop for a low price, but still maintain good quality. These stores carry items that have previously been used, but are still in good condition, and are then re-sold at a substantially lower price. To find a store near you, go to http://www.google.com/ and type in your city and “thrift store”, “consignment store”, “second hand store”. You can also look for those same words in the yellow pages of a phone directory.

If you wish to read about some of the popular terms for second hand stores, and locations throughout Iowa, you may go here: http://goo.gl/DXePK

Garage/Yard Sales

Another good way to save money is by going to garage and yard sales. These are sales, generally held in the spring, summer and early fall, when people gather their unwanted items, setup tables on their front yard or in their garage and sell them. The prices are usually negotiable, so do not hesitate to barter with the sellers, because they will usually be willing to make a deal. Most people will set up signs around their neighborhood stating where/when their garage sale is, so look around your neighborhood when you are out and about. Sellers also put advertisements in their local newspapers, or list their sales on www.Craigslist.com.

Ethnic/Specialty Foods

Iowa’s increasing international population means there are specialty grocery stores in many places, as well as sections of international food in many grocery stores.

Phone Solicitors

These are also known as telemarketers, and their job is to call people and try to sell a certain product. These products are usually, but not limited to, magazine/newspaper subscriptions, TV packages, cell phone contracts, or they are trying to get a donation for a charity. Some telemarketers work for a political organization and will call you to try and see if you will support their candidate/cause. If you do not wish to be contacted by telemarketers you may register your phone number to the “do not call” list, which is a list of numbers that telemarketers are not supposed to call. (This may not always keep them from calling, so if you do get a call, ask to be taken off the list or just hang up). You may register your number here: https://www.donotcall.gov/. It is generally not a good idea to buy any product over the phone; if you are interested in something, ask them to mail you information.

Home Care/Repair

Owning a house is a goal for many people. But when you own your home, you are in charge of the repairs when something breaks. There are many stores that have almost everything you will need to do large and small repairs, such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, Menard's, just to name a few. Sometimes their employees can give you advice on tools to use or repair techniques.

There are programs throughout Iowa that offer help for home affairs and improvements, you may find out more about them here: http://goo.gl/TrxCZ.

Craigslist

This is a website where people post ads for things they are selling, or things that they want to buy. It is a free service. . If you find an ad for something you would like to buy, you email the seller and make arrangements to buy the item and how much you are going to pay for it. There are scams on Craigslist, so if you can, take someone with you when you go to get the item. If you are selling something, do not meet the buyer at your home alone, if possible, and take cash, not a check. Most larger towns have their own Craigslist website, and you can search by city. You may visit Craigslist here: http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites